Chapter 32: Kill Oneself to Benefit the World
"Then, Kurama, what development path did you choose?"
Inside the seal space, the Nine-Tails fell silent for quite a while upon hearing Menma's question.
In a daze, the Old Man of Six Paths' voice seemed to echo in its ears again.
"Even if separated, you will always be together. And one day, you will become one again, bearing your respective names, in a manner completely different from before."
"Different from when you were within me, you will receive correct guidance."
"At that time, you will understand what true power is..."
True power...?
Old Man, even now, I still don't understand.
Snapping back to reality, the Nine-Tails said gravely: "In these long centuries, we nine Tailed Beasts have actually all been pondering what true power is."
"The other Tailed Beasts all possess unique physical structures and their own chakra characteristics, but I do not."
"Therefore, if I wanted to gain strength, I could only develop my own chakra."
Menma raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, a surge of interest rising instantly.
Could this be the reason for the purity and immense quantity of chakra within Kurama?
It feels quite like the 'Great Way is Simple'!
"Kurama, it seems you've stumbled upon the correct path by accident."
Compared to Menma's keen interest, the Nine-Tails instead collapsed listlessly in its cage.
"Forget it!"
Perhaps because it had spoken of its past experiences, it stopped trying to maintain its pride, its face full of hopelessness.
"Against conventional ninja like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Senju Tobirama, I could still rely on consecutively firing Tailed Beast Bombs to crush them. But against Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara..."
Those two freaks aren't even human.
Catching a Tailed Beast Bomb barehanded, shoving it right back into its mouth.
One glare, and it instantly loses consciousness.
No matter how much chakra it had, it was useless. Not enough for that fool Senju Hashirama to pinch with one hand, nor enough to withstand Uchiha Madara's glare.
The Nine-Tails felt it had nothing more to say.
But Menma wasn't disappointed, instead sneering: "That's because you don't know how to use your own chakra."
"I don't know how? Could it be you..."
Hearing Menma's words, the Nine-Tails was about to retort, but the latter half of its sentence suddenly caught in its throat.
Right, this guy... actually seems to know how to use it better than me.
Whether it was that Kyūmen Suppāka or the Rasenringu, their principles were related to Tailed Beast chakra.
Thinking this, the Nine-Tails completely shut up.
Its expression became even more hopeless, its body slumping limply in the cage like liquid, truly becoming a useless fox.
"Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. Just like Ashura, you stimulated the potential of chakra within your physical body through cultivation."
Menma picked up a strand of Nine-Tails hair from a nearby test tube, holding it before him for close examination: "What you lack now is a key, a key to unlock that potential!"
Tailed Beast Chakra Mode – every Perfect Jinchūriki can use it.
But only the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode is pure gold, its strength level surpassing all other Tailed Beasts.
There's also Kurama Mode, achieved through unity of heart and mind with the Tailed Beast, and 'Sage Fox Mode', combining it with Sage Mode...
The Nine-Tails' potential is definitely not limited to its current state!
"...What is the key?"
Hearing Menma's serious tone, which didn't seem false, the Nine-Tails' attitude became slightly more proper.
"A host capable of withstanding the powerful Tailed Beast's strength, or..."
Menma's eyes grew profound, his tone meaningful: "Learn Sage Mode."
Deidara could take down the wild Three-Tails with one technique; Fourth Kazekage Rasa could also control the wild One-Tail; the Third Raikage could fight the Eight-Tails hand-to-hand for three days and nights.
This shows that wild Tailed Beasts, relying on their advantages of massive chakra, enormous size, and special abilities, can possess strength comparable to Elite Jōnin. The Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails can match the strongest Hokage and Raikage.
But that's the limit.
The Tailed Beasts' physical structure prevents them from fully unleashing all their potential.
The power difference between a Tailed Beast with a Jinchūriki and one without is immense.
"Chakra is the foundation of this world. The path you walk is absolutely correct."
No matter the world, the power of science and truth is indispensable.
However, science also needs to adapt to environmental changes.
And the core of science in the ninja world is undoubtedly chakra.
In this world where chakra is truth, even science cannot escape the framework of chakra.
"Yin-Yang Release is too distant for me right now. Perhaps I can start developing the Tailed Beasts' power ahead of time."
When Naruto enters the Ninja Academy, I'll have him look through the books in the Academy library.
If Konoha has research theories and projects in this area, it could at least provide him with a research direction and inspiration.
Better than him fumbling across the river by feeling the stones all by himself.
Menma's thoughts drifted, while he spoke aloud to console Kurama: "Wait until I forge a body with sufficient potential, then I can let you witness your own true power."
"Wait! Never mind that for now!"
The Nine-Tails wanted to say more, but looking at little Naruto below, scratching his head, it twitched its lips and said: "If you don't come back soon, this brat Naruto is going to scratch his scalp raw!"
"Hmm? I don't remember giving him any difficult problems."
Menma frowned, packed everything up, and simultaneously dispelled the Shadow Clone.
His intangible soul body flew towards the distance, guided by the Book of the Crimson Moon.
When Menma returned to Naruto's residence, he happened to see little Naruto lying on the bed, frowning, constantly muttering something.
"This stubborn, one-track mind."
Menma chuckled reproachfully, his soul body once again entering Naruto's seal space.
...
At this moment, inside the seal space.
The Nine-Tails was covering its ears, looking helplessly at Naruto who was shouting in frustration.
What kind of question did that scheming guy give him? How does it feel like this brat Naruto has already gone crazy?!
As the Nine-Tails complained inwardly, a figure slowly appeared within the seal space.
Seeing him, the Nine-Tails immediately showed a relieved, joyful expression.
"Men—"
Before it could speak, Menma raised his index finger to his lips.
"Shh!"
Seeing Kurama quiet down, Menma silently approached little Naruto from behind.
Naruto's current literacy level, in some ways, had already reached the equivalent of junior high in his previous life.
He already possessed basic independent thinking skills, able to integrate various kinds of knowledge and apply them flexibly.
Problems that could stump him were becoming fewer and fewer.
"There aren't any difficult questions on this test paper either?"
Menma wondered, leaning over to look.
The entire test paper was neat, almost entirely filled with answers, and the accuracy rate was very high.
But only one very simple explanation question remained blank, looking particularly conspicuous.
"'In Mozi: Daqu, it states: 'To kill one person to save the world is not to kill one person to benefit the world; to kill oneself to save the world is to kill oneself to benefit the world.' Please analyze the meaning of this sentence.'"
Seeing this question, Menma paused slightly at first.
Such a simple question, how could he not figure it out?
Killing one person (other than oneself) to preserve the world doesn't mean killing that person benefits the world; but killing oneself to preserve the world is killing oneself to benefit the world.
But after just three seconds, he understood, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Clearly, little Naruto had overcomplicated this analysis question.
"Menma-nii!!"
Just then, little Naruto noticed Menma behind him.
He looked up, first showing delight, then instantly slumping again, asking with a woeful face: "This... how do I analyze this sentence?"
"Naruto, this type of question involves multiple fields of knowledge like ethics and political science. It's not something you should be delving into right now."
Menma finished speaking, but seeing little Naruto's watery eyes, he felt utterly speechless.
The kid's grown up, harder to manage now.
"Alright, then let me ask you a similar question, about a trolley."
(End of Chapter)
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